Fussell announces new album The Old Beloved Path with September release
Jake Xerxes Fussell will release his new album 'The Old Beloved Path' in mid-September through Fat Possum Records, marking his follow-up to last year's 'When I'm Called.' The Southern folk artist departed from his usual preference for original compositions to craft a cover of the traditional spiritual 'Rock Island Line,' drawing inspiration from a Lonnie Donegan rendition. Rather than delivering a straightforward arrangement, Fussell recontextualised the piece by interweaving it with lyrics from a classical English nursery rhyme, creating what he describes as a fresh musical whole that finally resonated with him artistically.
The album was developed in collaboration with producer and bassist Ben Whiteley at a North Carolina studio, with additional instrumentation from musicians including Dominic Billett, Isa Burke, Wayne Horvitz, and Ken Whiteley. Alongside the record's nine-track release, Fussell has scheduled summer performances leading into an extended autumn tour spanning North America and Europe, giving audiences opportunities to experience the material live.
- Folk singer-songwriter Jake Xerxes Fussell is releasing his sixth studio album 'The Old Beloved Path' on September 18 via Fat Possum Records
- The album's lead track is an unconventional cover of 'Rock Island Line' that blends the folk standard with an English nursery rhyme to create new meaning
- Recorded in North Carolina with producer Ben Whiteley, the project features contributions from several accomplished session musicians alongside an accompanying tour